David lawson eichaeds



(No Model.)

D. L. RICHARDS.

GAR COUPLING.

N0. 352,661. Patented Nov. 16. 1886.

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fla/Vb d' I, Rica/areas.

N. PETERS. Phom-Lithwnpher. Washington-P: 0

EINIT D STATES PATENT OFFIC DAVID LAWSON RICHARDS, OF ST. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATIGN formingepart of Letters Patent No. 352,661, dated November 16, 1886.,

Application filed March 1], 1886. Serial No. 194,535. (No model.)

- clare the same to be described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a top view; Fig. 2, a side e1eva-' tion Fig. 3, a front end View. Figs. 4 and dare longitudinal sections of a draw-bar provided with my invention, the nature of which is defined in the claims hereinafter presented, a shackling-link being shown as connected by a chain to the draw-bar. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, and Fig, 7 a rear view, of the coupling-pin,

. its lifter and latch to be described.

In Fig. 4. the shackling-pin is shown as down, or in its lowest position, whereas in Fig. 5 it is represented as up, or in its higher position.

In such drawings, the draw-bar A is shown as having-in rear of its flaring or trumpet mouth a a recess or chamber, 6, whose bottom is inclined in manner as represented at 0, such inclined bottom being for the coupling-link B to rest ou in order to bring it into a proper position for coupling with another draw-bar. The couplingpin shown at G has extending rearward from it a projection, d, which I term the link-holder, such projection when the pin is down through the link being to rest on such link and hold it in its position on the inclined plane a.

In the draw-bar head there is in rear of the shackling-pin passage f another passage, which is for the projection d and the gravitating latch h, extending down therefrom, to pass through.

In raising the pin to the position as shown in link and shackle it to the draw-bar.

There is pivoted to the projection d at its upper part a bar or lifter, L, which by a chain may be connected with the draw-bar, such chain being to prevent the pin from being accidentally extracted or pulled upward out of the draw-bar.

The vibratory or gravitating latch h is a weighted arm, formed as shown, its upper part, a, being furcated and standing at or about at a right angle to the part or shank 1) below it, such shank terminating in a foot or weight, 0', whose lower end or bottom is inclined,as shown at d, and to a stop or projection, 6, extending down therefrom. The part a embraces the projection d, and is connected solely thereto by a pin,f, going through such part a, and a short slot, 5 formed vertically in the projection d.- Such projection d is chambered on each of its opposite sides, as shown at h, to receive the prongs of the fork or part a, the latch having a thickness corresponding to that of the projection. The part of the projection that extends between the said prongs is inclined on its lower edge, as shown at i.

The latch has a slight vertical play or move. ment relatively to the projection d, in order to relieve the connection-pin of the latch from wear, for when the latch is resting on the inclined plane 0 the projection d will not bear down upon the said connection-pinf, but will rest directly upon the top of the latch. So when the pin (J is in an elevated position the upper part of the latch will be supported by the projection d,without the connection-pin f bearing on the bottom of the slot through which it passes.

By pulling the lifter upward the couplingpin 0- may be elevated, so as to enable the latch to move forward and rest on the inclined plane 0.

To set the link of one for coupling with the draw-bar of another car, the shackling-pin of such first car is to be dropped, so as to extend through the link and cause the link-holder to rest upon the link and hold it in an inclined position on the bottom or inclined plane of the link-chamber. The shackling-pin of the second car should be raised so as to cause its latch to rest on the inclined plane below it. On the link being driven into the draw-bar, the latch will be forced backward off the inclined plane, and the shackling-pin will drop through the link and shackle it to the draw-bar.

From the draw-bar there extends downward a projection, I, which is grooved or chambered vertically, so as to surround the latch when it isdown, or in its lowest position, such projection being to serve as a guard to prevent the latch when down from being accidentally struck, injured, or bent by any object.

The shackling-link B is connected with th draw-bar by a short chain, S, which prevents loss of the link when not in a draw-bar. To prevent the said chain S from being jammed and injured by the draw-bars when butting together, I provide each draw-bar with a recess or notch in the part of the butting end about which the chain extends in going from the link to the eye or attachment of the chain to the draw-bar, the said recess or notch being shown at m. greater than the width of the chain in order for the said draw-bar to operate with another draw-bar unprovided with such a recess.

By having the gravitating latch furcated in its upper part, and suchpart bent at or about at a right angle to the shank, and by having the link-holder chambered or recessed on its opposite sides to receive the said upper part of the latch, the chamberand said upper part constitute stops to prevent the latch from being driven too far back within the draw-bar.-

Some of the advantages of my improved carcoupling may be thus enumerated: It is simple in construction, and therefore economical in cost. It will couple automatically under most, if not all, conditions, whether with a draw-bar of like or different construction, and on a curved or straight track,with the draw-bar of one car above that of the other. It is easy to uncouple from another one a car provided with it, and, if desirable, it can be set so as not to couple. It cannot readily be accidentally uncoupled by jarring or straining of the cars while running. Its link cannot be easily lost,

as it'is connected with the drawbar bya chain; nor can its coupling or shackling pin be easilylost. It meets most, if not all, the requirements of train-men while coupling together a series of cars in order to form of them a train, or in uncoupling them in order to break up or separate them when in train. By having the inclines d and t" to the latch and 1'nk-holder, as explained, they operate to prevent the latch from being accidentally thrown backward off the inclined plane in case of the car being struck in rear by another one. When two cars are coupled,the gravitating power of the latch causes it to swingforward when the pin is lifted to uncouple them, and to rest on the link when such link is in such chamber and in position for the cars to be separated.

It may have a depth a little In coupling two cars, the link in one drawbar enters the mouth of the other draw-bar and shoves the latch therein oil the inclined bottom or plane of the link-chamber, thereby enabling the pin to drop through the link, so as to couple the cars. In uncoupling them the attendant is to lift the pin high enough to draw it out of the link and carry thelatch above the link, in order for the latch to move forward and rest on the link until the cars are separated. The opening at the top of the drawbar I usually cover with a cap having a hole through it for the passage of the lifter, such cap serving to prevent snow orrain or other matter from getting into the said passage.

To centralize the link and prevent it from choking in the link-chamber, such chamber tapers on its sides, it decreasing in width from its top downward, and, besides, its back slopes or curves upward, as shown at a, so as tocause the chamber to be deeper in its upper part than it is at its bottom.

I do not herein claim a car-coupling constructed as described, and represented in the United States Patent No. 312,657 dated Febabout at a right angle to the shank, and connected solely to the link'holder bya pin going through the slot and the prongs of the said upper part, such holder also having the incline i, all being substantially as set forth.

2. The link B and its chain S, in combination with the draw-head having the vertical notches a, as set forth. i

3. The combination of thelink-holder provided with the incline i with the gravitating ILO latch provided with the. incline d, and connected with such link-holder, substantially as described.

4. The link-chamber decreasingin width and depth from its top downward, as described.

DAVID LAWSON RICHARDS.

WVit-nesses:

R. H. EDDY, R. B. TORREY. 

